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Osage Beach Fire Protection District wants to make area safer

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After several deadly accidents at Lake of the Ozarks over the last year, The Osage Beach Fire Protection District wants to make safety adjustments. Currently, the district is proposing to expand dock inspection requirements. Osage Beach Alderman and realtor Fred Catcott said the proposal is beneficial to those who use the lake.

“It gets rid of the people that want to go the cheap way out and not get them brought up to date," Catcott said. "[It] will grossly improve the safety of the lake.”

Last summer, an electric current from a private dock struck and killed 13-year-old Alexandra Anderson and her 8-year-old brother Brayden while the two swam in the lake. Osage Beach Division Chief Fire Marshal Ed Nicholson said the proposal is a big step towards improving public safety.

“With the accidents last year, and the public outcry for better dock inspections and better protection, we accelerated [the proposal] up and we’re trying to do this in a phased program,” he said.

Nicholson said that the proposed inspections will check for proper wiring, connection and protection of electrical lines on or near the docks. If the proposal is adopted at next month’s board meeting, it will go into effect Aug. 1.